No man is an island, but five unsuspecting Australian’s nearly covered one after being marooned on a miniature isle off the country’s central Queensland coast.

The group of three men and two women, who were left stranded after their boat’s anchor broke, wrote a massive “SOS” message in the sand which eventually led to their rescue, The Daily Mail reported Wednesday.

A rescue helicopter saw the abandoned Australian’s message after the group spent nearly nine hours on the undersized landmass without food or water.

(Photo courtesy CQ Rescue)

One of the survivors Lyn Forbes-Smith, told The Courier-Mail that while they had appropriate footwear for the rocky terrain, “we had no food, water, cream, no hats, not much at all.”

Fearing the rising tide, Mrs. Forbes-Smith said the group sought refuge at the highest part of the understated island.

“We just looked for the highest ground, we looked for rocks where five of us could huddle together because we didn’t really want to separate, and we wanted to be out of the wind as best as possible,” she said.

While confident that friends and family would notice their absence and call the police, it was Queensland Water Police that discovered the abandoned boat on Monday afternoon and alerted RACQ-CQ rescue helicopters.

Three hours later, the rescuers spotted the SOS message.

(Photo courtesy CQ Rescue)

The group had originally set out to explore the island they were eventually stranded on. Shortly after they began snorkeling they realized the boat had drifted and a rising tide prevented them from reaching it.

Left without cell phones, the group prepared to wait hopefully on the island until their rescue.

Aside from some minor sunburn, the boats occupants were confirmed to be safe and in good health after their rescue despite the long ordeal.